ARY. 

UNIVERSITY  OF 
CALIFORNIA 

SAN  DIEGO 


tf»E  UNIVJMTY  LIBRARY 
iWlVERSIIv  § AN  DIEGO 


INTERNATIONAL  BUREAU  OF  AMERICAN  REPUBUCS 

JOHN     BARRETT,     DIRECTOR 
FRANCISCO  J.  YANES,  SECRETARY 


VENEZUELA 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTIVE  DATA 

PREPARED  IN  JUNE 

1909 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1909 


INTERNATIONAL  BUREAU  OF  AMERICAN  REPUBLICS 

JOHN     BARRETT,     DIRECTOR 
FRANCISCO  J.  YANES,  SECRETARY 


VENEZUELA 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTIVE  DATA 

PREPARED  IN  JUNE 

1909 


WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1909 


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VENEZUELA 

The  United  States  of  Venezuela  occupy  the  northernmost  part  of 
the  South  American  continent,  stretching  in  a  northwesterly  direc- 
tion along  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  the  Caribbean  Sea  and  bounded  on 
the  land  side  by  Colombia,  Brazil,  and  British  Guiana.  The  country 
has  an  area  of  593.950  square  miles,  equal  to  the  combined  area  of 
the  States  of  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Missouri, 
Arkansas,  Kentucky,  Tennessee.  Mississippi,  and  Alabama,  with 
sufficient  space  left  for  several  States  the  size  of  Rhode  Island.  Over 
this  vast  area  there  is  distributed  a  population  of  2,644,298,  Vene- 
zuela being  one  of  the  most  sparsely  populated  countries  in  South 
America. 

Venezuela  may  be  geographically  divided  into  three  distinct  zones, 
viz :  The  extensive  plains  and  river  valleys,  known  as  the  llanos. 
affording  excellent  pasturage  for  numerous  herds  of  cattle;  the 
mountain  section,  formed  by  the  three  mountain  ranges;  and  the  dry 
and  healthful  table-lands  or  plateaus. 

This  variety  of  physical  features  produces  an  equal  variety  of 
climate,  products,  and  soil.  Coffee,  cacao,  tobacco,  and  sugar  cane 
are  largely  grown  and  exported,  and  wheat  and  other  cereals  thrive, 
but  are  mostly  used  for  home  consumption.  The  slopes  of  the  moun- 
tains are  heavily  wooded  and  contain  quantities  of  timber  and  many 
useful  medicinal  plants,  among  them  divi-divi  (Ccesalpinia  coriaria), 
the  pods  furnishing  an  excellent  material  for  tanning;  Madura 
tinctorea,  producing  fustic  and  yielding  an  excellent  yellow  dtye; 
Indigofera  anil  and  Indigo f era  tinctorea,  yielding  indigo;  Castilloa 
<  lastica  and  Ilevea  brasilensis,  yielding  rubber,  and  numerous  cabinet 
and  other  useful  woods.  The  mines  produce  precious  and  useful 
metals,  gold,  silver,  copper,  and  lead,  the  various  asphalt  lakes  yield 
the  best  qualities  of  asphaltum,  and  along  the  coast  pearls  are  found 
at  different  points.  The  principal  exports  of  Venezuela  are  hides 
and  skins,  live  cattle,  coffee,  and  cacao. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 

The  Venezuelan  coast  was  first  sighted  by  Columbus  on  August  1, 
1498.  on  his  third  voyage,  and  was  successively  explored  by  Ajlonso 
de  Ojeda,  Aloxso  Xixo.  and  others.    The  country  at  that  time  was 


4  VENEZUELA. 

inhabited  by  no  less  than  150  tribes  of  Indians,  speaking  11  different 
languages  and  150  dialects,  among  which  the  Caribs  and  Teques 
were  the  most  warlike  and  savage.  They  succeeded  for  many  years 
in  preventing  the  permanent  settlement  of  the  country,  and  it  was 
here  that  the  Spaniards  encountered  more  difficulty  and  fiercer  re- 
sistance from  the  aborigines  than  anywhere  else  in  America. 

In  1527,  the  King  of  Spain  granted  the  Province  of  Venezuela  to 
the  Belzares  family,  who  dispatched  Ambrosio  de  Alfinger  to  bring 
it  under  subjection.  Alfinger  and  his  successors  did  not,  however, 
succeed  in  establishing  Spanish  authority  bej^ond  the  coast  strip, 
and  it  was  not  until  the  year  1545,  when  the  Spanish  Crown  dis- 
patched Juan  de  Carvajal  and  annulled  the  concession  of  the 
Belzares  family,  that  any  permanent  settlement  in  the  interior 
was  effected.  The  Spanish  dominion  was  then  gradually  extended 
over  the  whole  country,  the  Indians  being  enslaved  wherever  this  was 
possible  and  treated  with  the  utmost  cruelty.  This  led  to  numerous 
rebellions,  the  Indians  of  Venezuela  not  being  of  the  pacific,  sub- 
missive character  of  those  of  Peru  and  other  countries. 

The  British,  French,  and  Dutch  buccaneers  added  to  the  difficulties 
of  the  Spanish  authorities  by  frequent  attacks  on  the  coast  towns. 

In  1718  the  viceroyalty  of  New  Granada  was  created  and  the 
territory  of  what  is  now  Venezuela  passed  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  Viceroy  at  Bogota. 

The  first  movement  for  independence  was  initiated  in  Venezuela  as 
rally  as  the  year  1797  by  the  patriots  Gaul  and  Espana,  but,  like 
many  others  which  were  to  follow,  it  failed,  the  initiators  being  con- 
demned either  to  death  or  banishment.  Gen.  Francisco  Miranda's 
various  efforts  to  free  the  countrj7  from  the  Spanish  yoke  likewise 
failed.  In  the  year  1810  the  citizens  of  Caracas  rose  against  the  Span- 
ish authorities,  and  on  the  19th  of  April  deposed  the  Spanish  Gov- 
ernor. Don  Vicente  Emparan.  A  Constitutional  Congress  met  on 
March  2,  L811,  and  on  July  5  of  the  same  year  formally  declared  the 
independence  of  the  United  Provinces  of  Venezuela.  The  war  of  this 
firsl  revolution  lasted  until  1812,  when  Miranda  was  defeated  by 
the  Spanish  troops  and  Spanish  authority  again  reestablished.  In 
the  year  following  Simon  Bolivar  took  up  arms  against  the  Span- 
ish authorities  and  war  was  waged  with  varying  success  until  Bolivar 
defeated  the  Royalists  at  the  battle  of  Boyaca  on  August  7, 1819.  This 
defeat  ended  the  Spanish  dominion  in  northern  South  America,  the 
Viceroy,  Samano,  fleeing  from  Bogota  shortly  after  Boyaca. 

On  December  17,  1819,  Venezuela  became  a  part  of  Bolivar's 
Greater  Colombia,  and  upon  the  disruption  of  the  Federation.  Ven- 
ezuela declared  its  secession  and  absolute  independence  on  September 
22. 1830. 


VENEZUELA. 


Gen.  Jose  Paez  was  elected  the  first  President  of  the  Republic. 
Under  succeeding  Presidents  several  attempts  were  made  to  change 
the  form  of  government,  and  on  February  20,  1859,  by  vote  of  a 
majority  of  its  citizens  Venezuela  declared  itself  in  favor  of  a  Federal 
Republic,  which  form  of  government  was  finally  and  definitely 
adopted.  The  present  Constitution  of  Venezuela  was  promulgated 
April  27,  1904. 

Gen.  Juan  Vicente  Gomez,  the  present  incumbent  of  the  Presi- 
dency, assumed  the  office  in  1908,  upon  the  retirement  of  Gen. 
Cipriano  Castro.    His  term  of  office  will  expire  May  22,  1911. 

CONSTITUTION   AND  GOVERNMENT. 

Venezuela,  officially  termed  The  United  States  of  Venezuela,  is  one 
of  the  five  federal  unions  of  America,  having  adopted  the  federal, 
representative,  republican  form  of  govern- 
ment, the  various  States  being  entirely  autono- 
mous in  their  internal  government  with  cer- 
tain limited  powers  only  vested  in  the  Federal 
Government. 

Legislative  power  is  vested  in  the  National 
Congress,  composed  of  two  chambers,  the  Sen- 
ate and  the  House  of  Deputies.  The  members 
of  the  former  are  elected  by  the  legislatures  of 
the  States,  two  Senators  to  represent  each 
State,  for  a  term  of  six  years.  Deputies  are 
elected  by  direct  vote  for  a  term  of  six  years, 
every  citizen  over  21  years  of  age  being  enti- 
tled to  vote. 

The  President  and  two  Vice-Presidents  are  elected  for  a  term  of 
six  years  by  an  electoral  body  chosen  by  the  people  for  that  purpose. 
They  may  not  be  reelected  for  another  consecutive  term. 

A  Cabinet  of  seven  Ministers  or  Secretaries  of  State  assists  the 
President  in  the  administration  of  the  Government.  The  Cabinet  is 
appointed  by  the  President  and  is  responsible  to  him  alone. 

The  Federal  judiciary  comprises  a  National  Supreme  Court,  several 
courts  of  appeals,  and  a  number  of  minor  courts.  The  justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  seven  in  number,  are  elected  by  the  National  Congress 
for  a  term  of  seven  years. 

INTERIOR  GOVERNMENT. 

Thirteen  States,  five  Territories,  and  a  Federal  District  comprise 
the  United  States  of  Venezuela,  the  States  electing  their  own  execu- 
tive, legislative,  and  judicial  authorities.  The  Territories  are  admin- 
istered by  a  Governor  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  Republic,  as 
is  also  the  Federal  District,  the  Governor  of  the  latter  having,  how- 
ever, a  Municipal  Council,  elected  by  the  people,  to  assist  him. 


R.    General  j.  VICENTE   GOMEZ.. 

PRESIDENT     OF    VENEZUELA. 


6  VENEZUELA. 

The  State-  and  Territories  with  their  respective  capitals  are: 

State  of—  Capital. 

Aragua La  Victoria. 

Bermudez Cuinana. 

Bolivar Ciudad  Bolivar. 

<  '.irabobo Valencia. 

Falcon Coro. 

Guarico Calabozo. 

Lara Barquisimeto. 

Merida Merida. 

Miranda OcUmare. 

Tachira San  Cristobal. 

Trujillo Trujillo. 

/a mora San  Carlos. 

Znlia Maracaibo. 

Territory  of — 

Amazonas San  Fernando  de  Atabapo. 

Colon Gran  Roque. 

Cristobal  Colon Cristobal  Colon. 

Delta  Amacuro San  Jose  de  Aniacuro. 

Ynrnari Guacipati. 

The  Federal  District  comprises  the  cit}^  of  Caracas,  the  capital  of 
the  Republic. 

President Gen.  Juan  Vicente  Gomez. 

.Minister  of  tbe  Interior Gen.  Francisco  Linares  An  antara. 

Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs Dr.  Francisco  Gonzalez  Guixa.v 

Minister  of  tbe  Treasury  and  Public  Credit- Dr.  Jesus  Munoz  Tebar. 

Minister  of  War  and  Marine Gen.  M.  V.  Castro  Zavala. 

Minister  of  Fomento Gen.  Rafakl  Maik  i'a  Cababano. 

Minister  of  Public  works Dr.  Roberto  Vargas. 

Minister  of  Public  Instruction Dr.  Samuel  Dari'o  Maldonado. 

The  salary  of  the  President  is  $12,000  per  annum. 
VENEZUELA  IN  1908. 

During  1908  the  presidential  office  in  Venezuela  was  transferred 
from  Gen.  Cipriano  Castro  to  President  Juan  Vicente  Gomez,  who 
had  previously  held  the  office  of  Vice-President. 

Despite  certain  internal  disturbances,  the  country  faithfully  dis- 
charged its  obligations  to  the  bondholders  under  the  financial  ar- 
rangement of  19<).~t  and  effected  the  payment  of  the  various  claims  of 
the  Powers  under  the  protocol  of  1903.  The  payments  on  account  of 
the  foreign  debt  during  the  last  six  months  of  1908  aggregated 
$564,000. 

Numerous  decrees  recently  issued  provide  for  conditions  whereby 
certain  restrictions  on  trade  and  industry  throughout  the  Republic 
are  removed  and  distribution  made  of  certain  moneys  for  public 
expenditure  in  different  States.  In  May,  190!).  the  export  duties  on 
coffee,  cacao,  and  hide-  were  removed,  and  during  L908  such  modifica- 


8  VENEZUELA. 

tions  were  made  in  the  tariff  law  of  January  of  that  year  as  national 
exigencies  demanded. 

A  commission  has  been  appointed  charged  with  the  revision  of 
the  legal  code  of  the  Kepublic,  and  commerce  with  the  neighboring 
countries  is  being  developed  through  the  repealing  of  fluvial  regula- 
tions, which  have  been  found  detrimental  to  transit  trade. 

The  cable  service  with  Europe  was  resumed  under  the  contract  with 
the  French  company  made  in  May,  1909,  and  an  arbitration  treaty 
with  Brazil  has  been  signed,  to  become  effective  upon  the  exchange 
of  ratifications  by  the  two  Government  s. 

The  relations  of  the  States  of  the  Republic  among  themselves  and 
with  the  National  Government  continue  most  cordial,  and  the  decree 
of  January  26,  1909,  repealing  the  decree  of  August  2,  1907,  has  con- 
tributed to  the  further  strengthening  of  these  bonds. 

FOREIGN    RELATIONS. 

Friendly  relations  have  been  renewed  with  Holland,  from  which 
country  a  confidential  agent  has  been  accredited  near  the  Govern- 
ment of  Venezuela  and  a  protocol  concluded  on  April  19,  1909. 

The  United  States  of  North  America,  after  having  closed  its  lega- 
tion in  Caracas,  subsequently  sent  a  Peace  Commissioner  to  Vene- 
zuela, and  the  result  of  his  negotiations  was  the  protocols  of  February 
13,  1909,  and  the  reestablishment  of  the  legations  of  both  countries 
in  their  respective  capitals. 

Colombia  has  also  accredited  a  special  representative,  and  negotia- 
tions are  being  made  for  the  celebration  of  a  treaty  of  navigation, 
boundary,  and  commerce. 

The  friendly  and  equitable  adjustment  of  the  differences  with 
France  and  the  favorable  progress  of  the  negotiations  with  the  repre- 
sentative of  that  country  give  rise  to  the  hope  that  in  a  short  time 
the  two  nations  will  resume  most  cordial  and  reciprocal  relations. 

Relations  with  Germany  are  being  strengthened,  as  is  shown  by  the 
kind  reception  given  by  the  Emperor  to  the  special  mission  recently 
accredited  to  that  country,  and  the  pact  of  amity,  commerce,  and 
navigation  made  on  January  28,  1909. 

The  acceptance  of  the  arbitral  decision  of  the  claim  of  the  Caracas 
Water  Company  removed  all  differences  existing  between  that 
country  and  Belgium. 

The  protocols  of  December  9,  1905,  concerning  the  boundary  with 
Brazil,  have  been  approved  by  the  Brazilian  Congress,  but  the 
exchange  of  ratifications  has  not  yet  been  made. 

The  first  general  arbitration  convention  celebrated  with  a  neighbor- 
ing State  is  that  made  Avith  Brazil  in  Caracas  on  April  30,  1909. 

Venezuela  was  represented  in  the  Second  Peace  Conference  of  The 
Hague,  and  a  number  of  pacts  were  subscribed  to  by  her  delegates  to 
that  conference. 


VENEZUELA.  \) 

FINANCE. 

In  July,  1907,  Venezuela's  obligation  to  Great  Britain,  Germany, 
and  Italy,  by  virtue  of  the  protocols  of  Washington,  was  canceled, 
the  total  sum  paid  having  aggregated  $3,567,000. 

Since  August,  1907,  Venezuela  has  paid  to  the  countries  not  enjoy- 
ing preferential  treatment  30  per  cent  of  the  customs  receipts  of 
La  Guaira  and  Puerto  Cabello,  amounting  to,  up  to  May  1,  1909, 
$1,199,148. 

The  financial  obligations  of  the  Republic  and  the  agreements  made 
by  the  Government  have  been  strictly  complied  with.  During  the 
fiscal  years  1907  and  1908,  the  expenditures  of  the  Government  on 
account  of  these  obligations  amounted  to  $3,904,000,  and  from  Janu- 
ary 1  to  March  31,  1909,  $484,000,  or  a  total  outlay  of  $4,388,000.  all 
of  which,  in  accordance  with  the  protocols  of  Washington,  went  to 
the  foreign  powers,  the  3  per  cent  diplomatic  debt  of  1905,  the 
debt  contracted  on  account  of  diplomatic  agreements,  and  the  non- 
amortized  diplomatic  agreement  debt.  The  payments  on  account  of 
the  internal  debt  from  January  1,  1907,  to  March  31,  1909,  amounted 
to  $1,216,703. 

The  outstanding  internal  3  per  cent  debt  on  March  31,  1909,  was 
$12,040,000.  and  the  outstanding  external  debt  on  the  same  date  was 
$26,253,000,  or  a  total  of  $38,293,000. 

COMMERCE. 

Based  upon  the  published  returns  of  the  trade  of  the  Republic  for 
the  first  half  of  the  fiscal  year  1907-8,  the  commercial  transactions 
for  the  twelve  months  show  approximately  the  same  total  as  in  the 
preceding  year  when  an  aggregate  of  $26,540,905  was  reported. 

A  trade  estimate  places  import  values  at  $9,000,000  and  exports  at 
$17,000,000,  though  the  latter  values  were  probably  somewhat  smaller. 
The  principal  receiving  countries  were  the  United  States,  $5,550,073 ; 
France.  $5,496,627;  Great  Britain.  $1,447,784;  Germany,  $908,260; 
the  Netherlands,  $763,642;  Cuba.  $604,102;  and  Spain,  $589,560. 

United  States  statistics  note  receipts  of  Venezuelan  merchandise 
during  the  calendar  year  1908  to  the  value  of  $7,028,180  and  ship- 
ments to  the  Republic  to  the  amount  of  $2,566,022,  the  values  being 
practically  the  same  as  in  the  preceding  twelve  months. 

The  commerce  of  the  country  for  the  first  half  of  the  fiscal  year 
1907-8  consisted  of  exports  valued  at  $8,613,000  and  imports,  $4,- 
9S4.000.  Imports  were  received  as  follows:  From  Great  Britain, 
$1,804,000;  United  States,  $1,256,000;  Germany,  $823,800,  and  the 
Netherlands,  $462,400.  Shipments  were  made  to  France,  $3,409,000 ; 
United  States,  $3,097,000;  Great  Britain,  $622,000;  Germany, 
$485,000 ;  the  Netherlands,  $365.000 ;  arid  Spain,  $325,000. 


10  VENEZUELA. 

The  principal  exports  for  the  period  were:  Coffee,  58,489.200 
pounds;  cacao.  22,598,021  pounds:  divi-divi,  8.714.255  pounds;  cattle 
and  asphalt.  Rubber  shipments  aggregated  869,591  pounds,  and  ox- 
hides and  goatskins  together,  2,481,298  pounds. 

PRODUCTION  AND  INDl  STRIES. 

The  exploitation  of  native  products  forms  the  basis  of  Venezuela's 
industrial  life.  The  area  under  coffee  is  estimated  at  about  200,000 
acres,  the  number  of  estates  being  over  33,000,  and  the  product  in 
1907,  42,800  tons.  Cacao  growers  operate  5.000  estates,  14,000  tons 
being  exported,  and  sugar  planters  about  11,000,  the  annual  produc- 
tion being  about  3,000  tons.  Cotton  is  grown  in  exportable  quanti- 
ties and  the  forest  regions  abound  in  rubber  and  fine  timber.  A 
contract  for  the  exploitation  of  the  forests  of  the  Orinoco  Delta  has 
been  approved  by  the  Government  and  concessions  covering  the  Rio 
Negro  and  El  Caura  rubber  sections  contain  special  stipulations 
against  the  willful  destruction  of  the  trees.  The  cultivation  and 
manufacture  of  tobacco  is  an  important  branch  of  industrial  life,  and 
rice-growing  is  made  the  subject  of  special  bounties  in  certain  States. 

New  enterprises  are  covered  by  recently  granted  concessions  for 
the  culture  of  fiber  plants  and  the  development  of  the  textile  industry, 
also  for  linseed  oil  factories,  paper  mills,  and  cement  works. 

The  live  stock  of  the  country  is  estimated  at  over  6,000,000  head, 
including  2.000  oxen,  1,600,000  goats,  and  1,600,000  pigs. 

The  country  is  rich  in  minerals ;  gold,  copper,  silver,  iron,  and  salt 
being  profitably  mined.  Asphalt  is  exported  to  the  United  States  in 
large  quantities. 

The  coal  output  in  1906  was  over  14,000  tons,  and  newly  discovered 
deposits  in  the  States  of  Zulia  and  Marida  are  exploited  under  a  con- 
cession granted  in  April.  1908,  20  per  cent  of  the  profits  being  paid 
to  the  Government.  Salt  is  a  government  monopoly,  the  mines  being 
operated,  in  accordance  with  the  decree  of  January  27,  1909,  by  agents 
of  the  Federal  Government.    The  yearly  rental  is  $700,000. 

The  threatened  extinction  of  the  pearl  beds  on  account  of  over 
exploitation  has  necessitated  the  repeal,  for  an  indefinite  time,  of  the 
pearl-fishery  concession  and  the  prohibition  of  oyster  fishing. 

COMMUNICATION    FACILITIES. 

The  total  length  of  railways  in  operation  in  the  Republic  is  about 
540  miles.  The  number  of  lines,  according  to  latest  information,  was 
12.  with  an  invested  capital  of  over  $40,000,000^  Receipts  for  the 
first  half  of  L908  were  about  $800,000  and  expenditures  $600,000.  In 
connection  with  the  line-  there  have  been  constructed  710  bridges 
and  109  tunnels. 


12  VENEZUELA. 

The  Central  Railway  Company  of  Venezuela  continues  the  laying 
of  its  tracks  toward  Santa  Lucia,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the 
questions  between  the  company  and  the  Government  have  not  yet 
been  settled. 

"With  it-  favorable  geographical  position  on  the  Caribbean  Sea  and 
the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  with  a  coast  line  of  more  than  2.000  miles, 
Venezuela  possesses  no  less  than  50  bays  and  32  ports,  the  most 
important  of  which  are  La  Guaira,  the  principal  port  and  com- 
mercial center.  Puerto  Cabello.  Guanta,  and  Cumana.  at  which  ocean- 
going vessels  call  regularly.  Ciudacl  Bolivar,  on  the  Orinoco  River, 
■  '>l-\  mile-  inland,  and  Maracaibo,  on  Lake  Maracaibo,  are  the  most 
important  inland  ports  of  Venezuela. 

The  Atlas  Line,  the  Royal  Dutch  West  India  Line,  and  the  Red  D 
Line  maintain  a  regular  service  between  New  York  and  Venezuelan 
ports,  the  Atlas  Line  calling  at  La  Guaira  and  Puerto  Cabello,  the 
Royal  Dutch  West  India  Line  at  Puerto  Cabello,  La  Guaira,  Guanta, 
Cumana.  Carupano,  and  Margarita  Island,  and  the  Red  I)  Line  at 
La  Guaira,  Puerto  Cabello.  and  Maracaibo.  These  steamers  take 
from  seven  to  nine  days  to  make  the  trip  from  New  York  to  Vene- 
zuelan ports,  first-class  passage  being  $60  to  $75. 

The  waterways  of  Venezuela  form  important  means  of  communi- 
cation and  transportation,  there  being  no  less  than  70  navigable  rivers 
in  the  country,  with  a  total  navigable  length  of  over  6,000  miles,  of 
which  the  mighty  Orinoco,  the  third  largest  river  in  South  America. 
with  its  tributaries,  furnishes  nearly  4,000  miles.  The  more  im- 
portant of  the  other  navigable  rivers  are  the  Meta,  the  Apure,  the 
Portuguesa,  and  the  Yaracuy,  all  of  which  are  navigated  by  steam- 
ships for  considerable  distances.  The  Catatumbo  River  flows  into 
Lake  Maracaibo,  and  is  navigable  for  small  steamers,  while  the 
majority  of  the  other  rivers  are  navigable  for  steam  launches  and 
flat-bottom  boats  only. 

A  regular  steam-hip  service  is  maintained  on  the  Orinoco,  Apure. 
ami  Portuguesa  between  Ciudad  Bolivar,  the  principal  port  on  the 
Orinoco  and  the  interior,  as  well  as  points  along  the  coast.  Ocean- 
going vessels  enter  Lake  Maracaibo.  which  covers  an  area  of  8,000 
square  miles  and  is  navigable  in  its  entirety.  Lake  Maracaibo  is 
connected  with  the  Gulf  of  Venezuela  and  the  Caribbean  Sea  by 
mean-  of  a  strail  :'>l  miles  in  length  and  from  5  to  !>  miles  wide. 
Numerous  other  lake-  are  found  throughout  the  country,  Lake 
Valencia  being  'I"'  most  important  of  these,  owing  to  it^  favorable 
situation  between  Puerto  Cabello  and  La  Guaira  and  Caracas.  It 
i-  navigated  by  -mall  steamers. 

The  Escalante  River  has  been  opened  to  free  navigation. 


14  VENEZUELA. 

Steamships  are  engaged  in  the  coastwise  trade  along  the  coast  of 
Venezuela,  and  call  regularly  at  the  islands  of  Margarita,  Curacao, 

and  Trinidad. 

The  capital  of  the  Republic,  Caracas,  can  be  reached  either  from 
La  Guaira  or  Puerto  Cabello,  with  both  of  which  it  is  connected  by 
rail,  the  former  being  hut  22  mile-  from  Caracas. 

POSTS    AM)    TELEGRAPHS. 

From  the  close  of  L907  to  March  31,  1909,  14  new  post-offices  were 
established  in  the  Republic,  and  '21  discontinued  post-offices  reestab- 
lished. The  cost  of  the  maintenance  of  the  post-offices  from  1907  to 
March  31,  L909,  was  si:',s.000.  The  expense  of  transporting  the  mails 
during  the  same  period  was  $237,000.  The  Red  D  Line  has  reduced 
the  charge  for  the  transportation  of  the  mails,  and  important  changes 
have  been  made  in  the  rules  governing  the  importations  of  postal 
parcels. 

Ten  new  telegraph  offices  were  opened  during  the  fifteen  months, 
four  new  telegraph  lines  constructed,  and  two  lines  are  in  process  of 
construction.  The  receipts  from  the  telegraph  service  from  1907  to 
March.  L909,  were  $148,000. 

The  dispute  with  the  French  Submarine  Cable  Company  has  been 
settled,  the  Government  acquiring  the  coastwise  cable  system  and  a 
reduction  in  the  rates. 

The  telegraph  system  comprises  an  extent  of  4,552  miles  with  101 
office-.  During  the  first  six  months  of  1908  the  Government  extended 
the  system  by  26  miles,  repaired  735  miles,  and  rebuilt  556  miles 
of  wires.  At  Willemstad,  on  the  island  of  Curacao,  the  Nether- 
land-  Government  has  established  a  wireless  station  with  a  range  of 
300  miles,  open  for  government  and  public  business.  This  station  is 
to  be  connected  with  projected  establishments  in  Venezuela. 

PUBLIC    INSTRUCTION. 

Iii  December,  L908,  the  number  of  public  schools  in  the  Republic 
was  716,  which  number  was  increased,  by  virtue  of  a  decree  of 
February  23,  L909,  to  L,019.  Recently,  new  school  buildings  have 
been  constructed,  old  one-  repaired,  and  plans  have  been  made  for 
the  establishment  of  agricultural,  veterinary,  mining,  and  commercial 
college-.  Reforms  and  improvements  have  been  made  in  the  uni- 
ver-nie-  of  the  Republic,  the  Institute  of  Fine  Arts,  and  in  the  nor- 
mal schools.  The  tntal  Dumber  of  federal,  municipal,  and  private 
primary  schools  in  the  country  is  L,525,  of  secondary  instruction  88, 
and  of  higher  instruction  •_'  the  University  of  Caracas  and  the  Uni- 
versit  v  of  Los  Andes. 


BOLIVAR  SQUARE,  VALENCIA,  VENEZUELA. 

Valencia,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Carabobo,  Venezuela,  is  24  miles  from  Puerto  Cabello  on 
the  Caribbean  Sea  and  2  miles  from  Lake  Valencia.  The  memorable  battle  of  Carabobo, 
in  which  General  Simon  Bolivar  was  the  central  figure,  and  which  ended  monarchical  power 
on  the  northern  coast  of  South  America,  was  fought  near  the  lake  on  June  24,  1821. 


16  VENEZUELA. 

In  1907  the  total  amount  collected  for  school  purposes  was  $701,000, 
as  compared  with  $776,000  in  190S. 

On  June  30.  L908,  a  total  enrollment  of  35,777  pupils  was  reported. 

PUBLIC    WORKS. 

From  May  1,  1007,  to  December  31.  1908.  the  Government  spent 
$628,000  in  public  work.  A  special  commission  of  engineers  is  exam- 
ining the  port  and  wharves  at  La  Guaira  and  a  special  inspector  the 
Puerto  Cabello  to  Valencia  railroad,  for  the  purpose  of  recommend- 
ing the  necessary  improvements.  The  Government  has  purchased 
the  works,  rights,  and  shares  of  the  Wharf  Company  at  Maracaibo 
for  $48,000.  The  Executive  has  refused  to  receive  the  wharf  at 
Puerto  Sucre,  the  same  not  having  been  constructed  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  the  contract. 

The  new  lease  of  the  Caracas  waterworks,  made  for  a  period  of 
three  years,  produces  $10,000  per  annum  more  than  the  former  lease, 
and  the  Government  has  acquired  the  springs  which  supply  the 
Barquisimicnto  Aqueduct. 

The  Government  advocates  the  betterment  of  the  service  for  the 
collection  of  statistics,  and  the  Department  of  Public  Works  proposes 
to  improve  the  collection  and  compilation  of  federal  statistics. 

The  Government  is  desirous  of  attracting  a  good  class  of  immi- 
grants and  many  measures  for  the  promotion  of  colonizing  enter- 
prises are  under  consideration.  Hygienic  methods  are  being  applied 
in  the  centers  of  population,  vaccination  being  obligatory  since  May, 
1909,  and  stringent  regulations  are  enforced  in  regard  to  the  sanitary 
condition  of  arriving  and  departing  steamers.  By  an  Executive 
decree  of  March  17,  1909,  a  commission  of  public  hygiene  has  charge 
of  the  sanitation  of  the  capital,  and  all  matters  concerning  the  public 
health  are  submitted  to  its  consideration. 


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